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JOURNAL 


OF 


DR.  ELIAS  CORNELIUS, 

£~ 

A    REVOLUTIONARY    SURGEON. 


msmmmxmmmt 


GRAPHIC    DESCRIPTION 

OF  HIS  SUFFERINGS 

WHILE  A 

PRISONER  IN  PROVOST  JAIL, 

NEW  YORK,  1777  AND  1778, 
WITH  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

JUDGE  CHARLES  M.  TOMPKINS 

AND 

CHESTER  T.  SHERMAN, 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
1903. 


PRICE,  FIFTY  CENTS,  POSTPAID. 


JOURNAL 


OF 


DR.  ELIAS  CORNELIUS, 


A    REVOLUTIONARY    SURGEON, 


AND 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH. 


Copyright,  1902, 
By  Chester  T.  Sherman. 


JOURNAL  OF  ELIAS  CORNELIUS,  M.  D., 

Surgeon's  Mate  in  the  American  Revolutionary  Army, 

While  a  Prisoner  to  the  British  in  the  Provost  Jail,  New  York, 
1777  and  1778. 


AUGT.  22,  1777. — This  morning  I  marched  down  to  East  Chester 
with  the  main  body  of  our  troops  in  that  division  Viz.  Gen  Varnum's 
Brigade  of  Continental  troops  &  Gen  Ward's  of  Conneticut  Malitia  where 
we  went  and  surprized  one  of  the  Enemies  Piquets  and  took  two  officers 
and  some  privates  with  some  Tories  &  Negroes.  After  that  I  went  with 
our  two  guides  and  Dr  Tunison  of  the  General  Hospital,  and  seized  some 
stores  that  was  within  the  Enemies  Lines  and  kept  for  their  use.  After  that 
(which  was  about  two  o'clock  P.  M.)  the  Gen  thought  proper  to  send 
out  Piquet  Guards.  Capt  Y  Alden  of  Col  Samuel  B.  Webbs  Regiment, 
was  detached,  with  about  fifty  men  to  command  the  advanced  Piquet  on 
the  left,  near  West  Chester.  Capt  David  Dexter  of  Israel  Angell's  Reg 
iment  was  detached  with  the  same  number  of  men  to  command  the 
advanced  Guards  on  the  right  at  Miles  Square.  I,  wishing  to  be  where 
most  was  to  be  done,  rode  down  with  Capt  Dexter.  He  stopped  at 
Miles  Square  ;  but  seeing  a  body  of  men  at  a  distance  on  the  right  tow 
ards  North  River,  not  knowing  who  they  were  I  sat  out  with  a 
determination  to  find  out.  I  had  gone  but  halfway  when  I  met  Col 
Dammond. 

After  some  conversation  we  concluded  to  ride  to  the  Enemies  ad 
vanced  Post,  and  see  what  discoveries  we  could  make.  After  riding  in 
sight  of  Fort  Independence,  we  returned  unmolested  to  Col  Dammond's 
Regiment.  While  we  were  riding  we  heard  cannonading  and  firing  of 
small  arms,  which  we  supposed  to  be  the  enemy  attacking  our  advanced 
Guards  on  the  left  ;  here  I  left  Col  Dammond  and  returned  to  Capt 
Dexter' s  Piquet  and  there  tarried  some  minutes,  after  which  set  out  for 
Head  Quarters,  where  I  had  left  the  Gen  and  main  bodys  of  the  troops 
at  East  Chester.  It  had  become  late  in  the  afternoon,  but  I  thought 
myself  safe,  as  I  had  been  six  miles  nearer  the  enemy  than  I  was  at  that 
time.  I  had  now  four  miles  to  ride  before  I  came  to  Capt  Dexter 's 


M150922 


Piquet.  Before  I  come  to  East  Chester  it  took  up  some  time  ;  I  however 
arrived  there  in  an  hour  and  a  half.  To  my  great  surprise  I  found 
that  our  troops  had  left  the  place  and  retired  back  and  the  Enemies 
scouting  parties  were  in  the  town.  (At  this  time  Capt  Alden  on  the  left 
was  killed  and  his  Piquets  chiefly  killed  or  taken.)  On  riding  into 
town,  while  passing  a  corner,  four  of  the  Enemy  started  from  behind  a 
shed,  one  of  whom  seized  my  horse,  another  seized  me  by  my  coat  & 
legs  asked  me  where  I  belonged,  to  which  1  answered  to  the  Army  of 
the  United  States  of  America  and  to  Gen  Varnum's  Brigade  of  Conti 
nental  troops,  and  then  I  asked  where  Gen  Varnum  was  :  one  of  them 
(John  Anderson  a  noted  Tory)  said  "  I  am  he,"  I  answered,  it  is  false. 
By  this  time  they  had  me  to  the  ground  during  which  time,  one  of  them 
seized  one  of  my  pistols,  the  other  I  took  and  presented  at  the  breast 
of  the  leader  and  bid  him  surrender,  he  immediately  took  the  one  he 
had  taken  from  me,  and  presenting  it  asked  me  if  I  would  surrender,  to 
which  I  answered,  No,  he  immediately  ordered  the  others  to  make  ready 
their  peices  and  advance,  then  turning  to  me,  he  said  if  I  «  did  not  at 
once  surrender  he  would  order  his  men  toblowa  Brace  of  Pistols  through 
me"  I  immediately  surrendered.  They  at  once  began  robbing  me  of 
everything  I  had.  Viz  Horse  &  Harness,  Pair  of  Pistols,  Great  Coat, 
pair  of  Shoe  Buckles,  pocket  book  with  notes  &c  to  the  amount  of  25  or 
30^;  besides  some  money,  and  sundry  other  articles.  I  was  then  put 
under  guard  and  proceeded  to  West  Chester  ;  we  had  gone  but  half  a 
mile  when  we  met  one  of  the  Seargents  of  Capt  Alden's  party,  making 
his  escape  from  the  enemy  to  our  guards.  Here  the  leader  of  the  guard 
that  had  taken  me  seised  him  and  drove  him  with  me  to  a  place  3  miles 
below  West  Chester  to  a  Mr  Hunt's  an  old  tavern  keeper.  This  man 
abused  me  more  than  any  other,  while  I  was  a  prisoner  here  I  with  my  com 
panion  was  kept  till  the  next  morning.  The  officers  that  our  party  had 
taken  of  the  enemy,  (the  same  morning  I  was  taken)  were  allowed  to 
walk  the  streets  and  were  not  put  under  guard,  and  had  their  Parole 
immediately.  Where,  as  I  and  my  companion  were  put  in  close  con 
finement,  with  13  sentinals,  who  would  not  allow  us  to  speak. 

AUGUST  23rd — This  morning  as  I  and  my  companion  were  convey 
ed  to  Kings  Bridge  we  met  Mr  Delaney  a  Tory  Col,  who  inquired  of  our 
leader  "  where  he  got  those  scoundrels?  to  which  he  replied  that  they 
where  some  of  Washington's  army.  We  had  gone  but  little  farther,  when 
we  met  a  man  who  told  us  that  he  saw  Capt  Alden  dead,  the  day  before 
apd  that  he  helped  to  bury  him.  When  we  arrived  at  Kings  Bridge  I 


was  put  under  the  Provost  Guard  where  to,  my  sorrow,  I  found  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Prichard,  who  was  one  of  Capt  Alden's  Piquet  and  belonged 
to  the  State  Guards  of  Connecticut.  He  had  his  Commifsion  with 
him  which  was  taken  and  never  returned.  Besides  myself  and  the  man 
just  mentioned,  there  were  several  others  who  were  under  guard  with  us; 
one  Sargent  of  the  State  Guards,  a  Corporal  of  Col  Webbs  Regiment,  one 
of  the  Light-Horse,  and  8  Privates,  in  all  13.  We  were  kept,  in  this  place 
sometime  under  the  Hesian  Guards.  I  applied  for  the  things  of  which 
I  was  robbed,  my  pocket-book  &  buckles  were  returned.  I  then  made 
application  for  things,  which  belonged  to  other  prisoners,  (on  their  be 
half.  )  Some  of  them  had  part  of  their  things  returned,  others  nothing. 
At  eleven  O'clock  a  Surgeon  of  the  British  Army  came  to  me,  and  in 
quired  for  news  papers.  I  told  him  I  had  none,  he  then  gave  me  a  New 
York  paper,  and  said  that  I  should  have  my  parole  as  soon  as  I  reached 
New  York.  The  only  provision  we  had  as  yet  received  since  we  arrived 
here  was  some  mouldy  bread,  a  pint  of  rum  put  into  a  bucket  of  water? 
once  in  a  while  the  Hesian  that  Guarded  us  would  bring  some  sour  apples 
in  his  hat  and  throw  them  down  among  us  as  he  would  among  so  many 
pigs.  The  guards  being  relieved  we  were  marched  for  New  York.  Just 
before  we  reached  there  we  were  taken  to  the  Quarters  of  a  Hesian  Gen 
eral  for  a  show.  Here  the  Hesians  flocked  around  us,  mocking  us, 
sometimes  drawing  their  swords  across  our  throats,  and  saying  we  were 
to  be  hung  here.  A  mate  of  the  Hesian  Surgeon  seeing  me  much  fatigued 
gave  me  a  glass  of  wine  which  refreshed  me  much.  Here  our  present 
guards  were  relieved  by  other  Hesians;  we  were  marched  for  Harlem 
here  we  were  brought  before  Gen.  Piquet,  a  Brigideer  General  in  the 
British  Service  ;  we  staid  here  a  few  minutes,  we  were  then  put  under  an 
English  Guard,  who  treated  us  better  than  we  had  been  before  ;  under 
this  guard  we  went  to  New  York.  It  being  very  warm  weather,  and  the 
Guards  changing  often,  we  were  marched  so  fast,  that  some  of  us  were 
ready  to  faint.  But  we  were  not  allowed  to  stop  even  to  get  a  drink  of 
water  till  we  came  to  within  four  miles  of  New  York,  when  a  poor  woman 
seeing  our  condition,  came  out  and  entreated  our  guards  to  stop  that  she 
might  give  us  some  water  ;  the  guard  consented  and  the  good  woman 
(as  I  may  call  her,  for  I  beleive  she  was  the  means  of  saving  the  life  of 
one  of  our  men  who  was  just  sinking  with  the  heat)  ran  into  the  house 
and  brought  us  several  pails  of  beer  and  three  or  four  loaves  of  bread  and 
two  or  three  pounds  of  Cheese,  and  to  some  of  us  she  gave  some  money  ; 
the  name  of  this  woman  was  demons,  a  native  of  Boston,  and  she  was 


6 

about  30  years  of  age.  She  kept  a  small  shop  at  the  righthand  side  of 
the  road  near  Kings  bridge.  We  marched  till  we  come  to  the  Bowery, 
within  ^  of  a  mile  of  New  York  j  being  very  thirsty  I  prevailed  upon  the 
guard  to  stop,  that  we  might  again  refresh  ourselves.  We  asked  some 
negroes  if  they  would  give  us  some  water,  to  which  they  replied  "  No  " 
Domd  you,  you  rebels,  that  we  cant  give  you  none,  we  are  some  of 
Donmons  Men,"  we  were  forced  to  go  on  without  our  desired  refresh 
ments. 

As  we  come  into  the  town  the  Hesians,  Negroes,  and  children  in 
sulted,  stoned  and  abused  us  in  every  way  they  could  think  of.  At  that 
time  two  of  our  men  had  become  so  fatigued  that  we  were  obliged  to 
carry  them.  In  this  way  we  were  led  through  half  the  streets,  as  a 
show.  At  last  we  were  brought  before  Gen  Jones  who  ordered  us  to  the 
Sugar  House  which  formerly  went  by  the  name  of  Livingston's  Sugar 
House  which  was  the  Prison  the  private  Soldiers  were  kept  in.  Here 
one  Walley  a  Seargent  of  the  2oth  Regt.  of  Irish  troops  in  the  British 
Service,  had  the  charge  of  the  prisoners.  This  man  was  the  most  bar 
barous,  cruel  man  that  ever  I  saw  he  drove  us  into  the  Sugar  house  yard 
like  so  many  hogs,  from  there  he  ordered  us  into  the  Sugar  House  which 
was  the  dirtiest  and  most  disagreeable  place  that  I  ever  saw  and  the  water 
in  the  pump  was  not  better  than  that  in  the  Dock.  The  top  of  the  House 
was  open  to  the  weather,  so  that  when  it  rained  the  water  ran  along 
and  through  every  floor  and  on  that  account  it  was  impossible  for  us  to 
keep  dry.  Mr  Walley  gave  us  (13  of  us)  4  pounds  of  poor  Irish  Pork 
and  4  pounds  of  mouldy  bread  for  4  days.  After  passing  one  night  I 
asked  Mr  Walley  if  I  was  not  to  have  my  parole  to  which  he  answered  No. 
I  then  asked  for  a  pen  and  ink  that  I  might  write  a  petition  to  the  Gen 
for  it,  he  answered  no,  and  was  very  cross  and  abused  me  very  much. 
I  again  asked  him  the  reason  why  I  was  not  to  have  my  parole,  he  told  me 
I  was  not  to  have  it.  I  then  asked  him  if  he  would  let  me  have  a  pen  and 
ink  to  write  a  few  lines  to  my  father  which  he  might  see  before  I  sent  them. 
He  then  struck  me  across  the  face  with  a  staff  which  I  have  seen  him 
beat  the  prisoners  ;  he  told  me  he  would  find  a  place  for  me.  The  next 
morning  he  came  and  took  me  out  of  prison  under  guard  with  one  Capt 
Bissel  (whom  he  had  taken  trom  the  main  Guard)  and  conveyed  us  to 
the  Provost  Guard.  Capt  Bissel  was  put  in  the  upper  part  of  theprison. 
I  was  then  taken  down  to  a  Dungeon  ;  when  the  door  was  opened  «  here'.' 
says  Sergeant  Keith  (the  Provost  marshal)  here's  a  Doctor  for  you. 


you  Damb  rebbel."  When  I  went  in  I  found  Capt  Chatham  formal y 
Capt  of  a  Privateer,  and  belonged  to  Pensylvania,  and  was  taken  prison 
er  and  put  in  this  dungeon,  because  after  he  was  taken  captive,  he  was 
ordered  to  pilot  their  ship  up  the  Deleware,  which  he  refused.  There 
was  also  in  this  place  a  Capt  Travis,  of  Virginia,  &  Capt  of  a  Sloop  of 
War,  &  John  McCalsenden  a  Quarter  Master  in  the  Continental  Army, 
and  belonged  to  the  first  Battallion  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  accused  of 
being  a  deserter  Six  or  Seven  years  before  the  present  war  begun.  He 
was  condemned  to  be  hung,  but  did  not  know  which  ;  he  had  been  there 
between  five  and  six  months  ;  There  were  also  in  this  dismal  place  be 
sides  these  mentioned,  nine  thieves  murderers  &c.  While  in  this  place 
Capt  Chatham  was  taken  sick  with  nervous  fever,  I  solicited  Seargent 
Keith  to  permit  him  to  go  up  stairs,  But  he  answered  in  the  negative. 
I  then  requested  him  to  suffer  me  to  send  for  some  Medicine  or  I  believe 
he  must  die,  to  which  he  replied  he  might  die  ;  and  if  he  did  he  would 
bury  him.  All  the  provision  each  man  had  for  a  week  was  but,  two 
pounds  of  Meat  and  two  pounds  of  bread,  always  one  and  sometimes 
both  was  not  fit  to  eat,  and  those  who  had  money  were  not  able  to  send 
to  purchase  any  of  the  necefsaries  of  life.  At  this  time  I  had  not  one 
farthing  of  money  just  being  robbed  of  all,  and  also  of  my  clothing  ex 
cept  what  I  had  on.  I  had  no  change  of  linen  from  the  25th  of  Aug 
ust  till  the  1 2th  of  September.  At  this  time  I  solicited  Sargent  Keith 
to  permit  me  to  send  to  my  lather  on  Long  Island  and  see  if  he  would 
send  me  some  money  and  clothing  which  I  was  much  in  need  of.  (My 
father  was  one  of  their  beloved  friends  and  lived  among  them)  But  he 
as  before  positively  answered  in  the  negative,  and  said  that  no  paper  or 
written  message  should  be  sent  out  of  the  dungeon.  About  this  time  I 
was  feeling  resigned  to  suffer  all  the  punishment  that  they  were  desirous 
of  inflicting  upon  me.  Remembering  that  many  of  my  dear  country  men 
had  previously  suffered  greater  punishment  than  mine  ;  and  that  many 
of  them  died  and  bled  in  their  countrys  cause,  and  defence.  Previously 
contemplating  and  Meditating  that  the  cause  we  were  contending  for, 
f.vas  a  just  cause,  and  a  cause  that  all  mankind  ought  to  be  interested  in. 
Having  meditated  on  all  these  things,  I  thought  myself  in  duty  bound, 
to  suffer  with  patience  &  fortitude,  with  my  fellow  prisoners  in  my 
country's  cause.  In  this  hidious  place  I  was  kept  till  the  twentieth  of 
September  following  ;  when  Seargent  Keith  (the  Provost  Martial)  came 
to  the  dungeon  and  took  Capt  Chatham,  and  Travis,  and  myself,  and  led 
us  to  the  upper  part  of  the  prison,  where  I  found  mv  friends  that  were 


8 

also  prisoners,  Viz,  Ethan  Allen,  Major  Williams,  Paine  &  Wells  and 
others.  Allen  was  made  prisoner  near  Montreal,  in  the  beginning  of 
the  war.  He  was  put  on  board  a  man  of  war,  and  kept  chained  flat  on 
his  back  in  the  hole  six  months.  He  also  told  me  he  had  twice  been 
carried  on  shore  in  England  to  be  hung,  but  was  reprieved.  He  was 
likewise  taken  on  shore  in  Ireland  and  at  Halifax  for  the  same  purpose. 
After  this  he  was  brought  to  New  York,  where  for  a  short  time  he  had 
his  parole,  it  was  taken  from  him,  and  he  put  in  the  provost  jail,  as  there 
was  an  antipathy  against  him.  I  left  him  in  this  goal  on  Jan  7,  1778. 
Major  Williams,  belonged  at  Maryland  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Fort 
Washington.  Major  Paine  belonged  at  Connecticut.  (While  I  was  in 
this  place,  we  were  not  allowed  to  speak  to  any  friend,  not  even  out  of 
the  window,  I  have  frequently  seen  women  beaten  with  canes  and  ram 
rods  who  have  come  to  the  Prison  windows  to  speak  to  their  Husbands, 
Sons  or  Brothers,  and  officers  taken  and  put  in  the  dungeon  just  for  ask 
ing  for  cold  water.  Our  provision  was  the  same  as  in  the  dungeon  with 
the  exception  of  dried  Peas,  we  however  had  no  fire  to  cook  them.  Soon 
Fort  Montgomery  was  taken  by  Gen  Clinton  (British)  and  all  the  officers 
were  brought  and  put  in  two  small  rooms  on  the  lower  floor  of  the  prison. 
Several  of  them  were  badly  wounded  but  no  Surgeon  was  allowed  to 
drefs  them.  I  asked  Sargent  Keith  for  the  privilege,  he  first  told  me  I 
should,  but  on  asking  him  the  second  time,  I  was  refused,  and  assured 
if  I  said  any  more  about  it  he  would  put  me  with  them  and  there  keep 
me.  All  of  us  in  the  upper  prison  were  sometimes  allowed  to  go  on  top 
of  the  house,  I  took  this  opportunity  of  throwing  some  ointment  and 
Lint  down  the  chimney  to  the  wounded  in  the  lower  rooms,  with  direc 
tions  how  to  use  it,  I  knew  only  one  of  them  Lt.  Col  Livingston. 
About  this  time  there  was  a  report  about  town  that  Burgoyne  and  his 
army  were  made  prisoners,  by  the  army  under  command  of  the  Hon  Ma 
jor  Gen  Gates  ;  it  was  however  soon  contradicted  in  their  newspapers,  it 
was  set  forth  in  the  following  manner  f(  Last  Thursday  the  rebels  came 
to  Elizabeth-town  Point,  to  enlist  recruits  for  the  rebel  service,  and  in 
order  to  deceive  raised  a  false  report,  fired  cannon,  made  fires,  and  gave 
away  rum  without  measure,  and  said  that  Gen  Burgoyne  and  his  whole 
army  were  taken  prisoners.  But  notwithstanding  all  their  efforts  they 
could  not  get  a  single  man.  And  the  account  of  Gen  Burgoyne  being 
taken  prisoner  is  to  rediculous  to  be  beleived."  This  pafsed  in  some  of 
the  papers  and  there  was  nothing  said  for  ten  or  fourteen  days,  but  the 
women  that  pafsed  by  made  motions  assuring  us  that  we  might  depend 


9 

upon  it  that  he  was  surely  taken  prisoner.  About  this  time  Col  Living 
ston  had  a  letter  sent  into  him  from  his  father  By  a  British  Officer  who 
was  coming  into  New  York  on  Parole,  and  was  brought  to  the  Commander 
of  the  city,  who  being  in  haste  ordered  his  Secretary  to  write  his 
permission  to  the  letter  and  direct  it  to  Mr  Livingston  a  Rebel  Col, 
in  the  Provost  jail,  therefore  it  was  brought  to  him.  Soon  we  heard 
hollooing,  and  other  expressions  of  joy  by  him  and  others  in  the  same 
room,  but  could  not  tell  what  was  the  matter.  After  he  had  read  the 
letter  over  and  over  again  he  put  it  up  to  us  through  the  crack  in  the 
floor,  and  we  at  once  knew  the  cause  of  their  joy,  and  the  whole  prison 
was  filled  with  joy  inexpressible !  The  truth  of  what  we  heard  was 
at  this  time  confirmed.  The  next  thing  we  saw  was  (in  the  papers) 
Gen  Burgoyne's  capitulation  with  Gen  Gates.  From  this  time  till  I  left 
the  prison  we  were  better  treated,  although  the  provision  was  bad.  But 
drew  rather  larger  quantities  of  it.  Some  Butter,  and  about  a  gill  of  rice 
a  week,  and  some  cole  which  we  never  drew  before.  About  this  time 
my  father  came  from  Long  Island  to  the  prison  to  see  me.  I  was  called 
down  to  the  grates.  My  heart  at  first  was  troubled  within  me,  I  burst 
into  tears  and  did  not  speak  for  some  minutes.  I  put  my  hand  through 
the  grates  and  took  my  fathers,  and  held  it  fast.  The  poor  old  gentleman 
shed  many  tears  and  seemed  quite  troubled  to  see  me  in  so  woeful  a  place. 
He  asked  me  how  I  did  I  told  him  poorly  but  as  well  as  could  be  expected 
in  such  a  hidious  place,  I  then  asked  after  the  health  of  Mother 
Brother  &  Sisters,  he  told  me  they  were  well.  I  was  filled  with  joy  at 
hearing  this  as  it  was  the  first  time  I  had  heard  from  them  since  I  en 
tered  the  service.  He  asked  me  "  what  I  thought  of  myself  now  and 
why  I  could  not  have  been  ruled  by  him,  he  said  he  had  forewarned  me 
of  the  cost,  and  that  I  had  been  led  away  by  a  bad  man  (Dr  Latham 
and  that  Washington's  whole  crew  would  soon  be  in  the  same  situation" 
and  says  he,  "  did  not  you  never  see  his  excellency's  proclamation,  whare 
in  was  set  forth  a  free  grace  and  pardon  to  all  who  would  come  in  vol- 
untarely"  (Meaning  Sir  Wm  Hows  Proclamation)  I  told  him  I  had 
seen  it,  says  he  «<  why  then  did  you  not  come  in  then,  voluntarely,  and 
quit  the  rebels.  I  thought  you  would  come  in  voluntarely  without  being 
brought  in  by  force  of  arms"  Says  I,  Father  what  made  you  think  so, 
did  not  I  lell  you  my  mind  before  I  left  your  house,  and  did  not  you 
know  my  disposition?  Have  not  I  been  faithful  in  all  the  duties  of  a 
child,  to  a  parent  ?  But,  Father  you,  and  every  other  man  must  know 
that  it  was  a  very  trying  thing  to  me,  to  leave  all  my  dear  friends  and 


10 

turn  myself  out  frito  the  world  naked,  Does  this  seem  to  you,  to  show  a 
rebellious  disposition  of  temper  and  mind?  When  at  that  time  I  had 
not  a  relative  or  acquaintance  in  the  Army,  not  a  relative  in  the  world 
but  what  were  enemies  to  this  once  happy  country.  Believe  me  dear 
Father,  I  was  not  led  away  by  any  man  as  you  supposed.  But  on  the 
contrary  I  weighed  the  matter  seriously  before  I  came  into  the  service, 
the  more  I  meditated  the  more  I  was  led  to  believe  that  the  cause  in 
which  my  countrymen  were  engaged  was  a  just  one,  and  loudly  called  for 
the  assistance  of  every  well  wisher  of  his  bleeding  country.  Such  were 
the  feelings  when  I  left  my  tender  father's  family.  Soon  the  provost 
Martial  came  and  said  he  could  not  allow  my  father  to  stay  longer,  I 
therefore  bade  him  farewell.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  December  we 
had  Continental  bread  and  beef  sent  us  and  as  much  wood  as  we  wished 
to  burn,  (a  friend  gave  me  some  money  which  was  very  useful.) 

JANUARY  Qth  1778. — This  day  Mr  Walley  come  and  took  from  the 
prison  myself  and  six  others  under  guard  and  took  us  to  the  Sugar  House 
where  I  was  first  imprisoned.  At  this  time  my  health  was  bad,  being 
troubled  with  the  Scurvey,  and  my  prospects  for  the  winter  were  dark. 
This  prison  was  much  worse  than  when  I  left  it  before,  from  the  fact  that 
there  were  nearly  thirty  soldiers,  who  went  around  to  the  other  prison 
ers  and  stole  from  them,  the  few  comforts  they  had,  and  take  the  sick 
from  their  beds  and  take  their  bed  clothing,  and  beat  and  kick  them 
almost  to  death.  The  articles  which  they  took  from  us  they  would  carry 
to  Mr  Walley  and  sell  them  for  rum. 

JANUARY  i3th. — This  morning  I  being  unwell  went  to  the  hospital, 
which  was  the  brick  Meeting  House,  here  I  staid  until  the  i6th  here  I 
was  not  much  better  than  I  was  in  the  Sugar  House  no  medicine  was 
given  me,  though  I  had  a  cough  and  fever,  the  Surgeon  wished  me  as 
soon  as  I  became  better  to  take  the  care  of  the  sick,  provided  he  could 
get  my  parole. 

JANUARY  i6th. — On  coming  the  next  morning  he  said  he  could  get 
it.  1  was  now  determined  to  make  my  escape,  although  hardly  able  to 
undertake  it.  Just  at  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  before  the  lamps  were 
lighted  (having  made  the  Sentinal  intoxicated)  I  with  others  went  out 
into  the  back  yard  to  endeavor  to  make  our  escape  over  the  fence,  the 
others  being  backward  about  going  first,  I  climed  upon  a  tomb  stone 
and  gave  a  spring  and  went  over  safely,  and  then  gave  orders  for  the 
others  to  do  likewise.  A  little  Irish  lad  undertook  to  leap  over,  and 
his  clothes  in  the  spikes  in  the  wall,  and  made  something  of  a 


11 

noise.  The  sentinal  being  aroused  called  out  (Rouse)  which  is  the 
same  as  to  command  the  Guards  to  turn  out.  They  were  soon  out  and 
surrounded  the  prison,  in  the  meantime  I  had  made  my  way  to  St.  Paul's 
Church,  which  was  the  wrong  way  to  get  out  of  town.  The  guards  ex 
pecting,  I  had  gone  towards  North  River,  went  in  that  direction.  On 
arriving  at  the  Church  I  turned  into  the  street  to  go  by  the  College  and 
thus  go  out  of  town  by  the  side  of  the  river.  Soon  after  I  was  out  of 
town  I  heard  the  8  o'clock  gun  ;  which  was  found  on  board  the  Com- 
modors  ship,  and  was  a  signal  for  the  Sentinals  to  hail  every  man  that 
came  by.  I  wished  much  to  crofs  the  river  but  could  not  find  any  boat 
suitable.  While  going  up  the  side  of  the  river  at  9  O'clock  (P  M)  I 
was  challenged  by  a  Sentinal  with  the  usual  word  (Burdon)  upon  which 
I  answered  nothing,  on  being  challenged  the  second  time  I  answered 
Friend.  He  bade  me  advance  and  give  the  counter  sign,  upon  which  I 
fancied  I  was  drunk  and  advancing  in  a  staggering  manner,  and  after 
falling  to  the  ground,  he  asked  me  where  I  was  going,  home  I  told  him, 
but  had  got  lost,  and  having  been  to  New  York,  had  taken  rather  too 
much  liquor,  and  become  somewhat  intoxicated.  He  then  asked  my 
name  which  I  told  him  was  Marther  Hopper  (Mr  Hopper  lived  not  far 
distant)  And  solicited  him  to  put  me  in  the  right  road,  but  told  me 
that  I  must  not  go  till  the  Sargent  of  the  Guards  dismissed  me  from  him, 
unless  I  could  give  him  the  counter  sign.  I  still  entreated  him  to  let  me 
go  knowing  the  situation  I  was  in.  Soon,  however,  he  consented  and 
directed  my  course  which  I  thanked  him  for.  Soon  the  moon  arose  and 
made  it  very  light,  and  there  being  snow  on  the  ground,  crusted  over, 
and  no  wind,  therefore  a  person  walking,  could  be  heard  a  great  dis 
tance.  At  this  time  the  tumor  in  my  lungs  broke,  and  being  afraid  to 
cough  for  fear  of  being  heard,  prevented  me  from  releiving  myself  of  the 
puss  that  was  lodged  there.  I  had  now  to  cross  lots  that  were  cleared  and 
covered  with  snow,  the  houses  being  thick  on  the  road,  which  I  was  to 
cross,  and  for  fear  of  being  heard,  I  lay  myself  flat  on  my  stomach  and 
crept  along  on  the  frozen  snow.  When  I  come  to  the  fence,  I  climed 
over,  and  walked  down  the  road,  near  a  house  where  there  were  music 
and  dancing.  At  this  time  one  of  the  guards  came  out.  I  immediately 
fell  down  upon  my  face.  Soon  the  man  went  into  the  house,  I  rose 
again  and  crossed  the  fence  into  the  field  and  proceeded  toward  the  river, 
there  being  no  trees  or  rocks  in  the  field  to  hinder  my  being  seen,  and 
not  being  able  to  walk  without  being  heard  as  the  snow  crust  was  hard 


12 

enough  to  permit  my  walking  on  it,  and  the  dogs  beginning  to  bark,  I 
lay  myself  flat  again  and  crept  across  the  field,  which  took  me  half  an 
hour.  I  at  length  reached  the  river  and  walked  by  the  side  of  it  some 
distance  and  saw  a  small  creek  which  ran  up  into  the  island  and  by  the 
side  of  it  a  small  house,  and  two  Sentinals  one  each  side  of  it,  not  know 
ing  what  to  do  I  crept  into  a  hole  in  the  bank  which  led  in  between  two 
rocks,  here  I  heard  them  talk.  I  concluded  to  endeavor  to  go  around 
the  head  of  the  creek  which  was  about  half  a  mile,  but  on  getting  out  of 
the  hole  I  took  hold  of  a  limb  of  a  tree  which  gave  way,  and  made  a 
great  noise,  the  sentinal  on  hearing  it  said  "did  you  not  hear  a  person 
on  the  cr,"  I  waited  some  minutes  and  then  went  around  the  head  of 
the  creek  and  came  down  to  the  river  on  the  other  side  of  the  house  to 
see  if  I  could  not  find  a  boat,  to  crofs  to  Long  Island.  But  on  finding 
sentinals  near  by  I  returned  back  a  short  distance,  and  went  up  the 
river.  I  had  not  gone  more  than  30  rods,  when  I  saw  another  seminal 
posted  on  the  bank  of  the  river  where  I  must  pafs  or  go  round  a  half  a 
mile  and  then  come  down  to  the  river  again.  I  stood  some  minutes 
thinking  what  course  to  pursue,  but  on  looking  at  the  man  found  he  did 
not  move  and  was  leaning  on  his  gun,  I  advanced  toward  him  and  suc 
ceeding  in  pafsing  by  without  waking  him  up.  After  this  I  found  a 
Sentinal  every  15  or  20  rods  till  I  came  within  2  miles  of  Hell  Gate. 
Here  I  stayed  till  my  feet  began  to  freese,  and  having  nothing  to  eat,  I 
went  a  mile  farther  up  the  river.  It  now  being  late  I  crept  up  into  the 
bushes  and  lay  down  to  think  what  to  do  next.  I  concluded  as  I  could 
not  get  a  boat  to  crofs  the  river  to  Long  Island  to  remain  where  I  was 
during  the  night  and  early  in  the  morning  to  go  down  to  New  York  and 
endeavor  to  find  some  house  to  conceal  myself  in.  In  the  morning  as 
soon  as  the  Revelry  Beating  commenced  I  went  on  my  way  to  New  York 
which  was  8  miles  from  this  place,  after  proceeding  awhile  I  heard  the 
morning  guns  fired  at  New  York  though  4  miles  from  it.  I  pafsed  the 
sentinals  unmolested,  down  the  middle  road,  and  arrived  there  before 
many  were  up.  I  met  many  of  the  British  and  Hessian  Soldiers  whom 
I  knew  very  well,  but  they  did  not  know  me.  I  went  to  a  house  and 
found  them  friends  of  America,  and  was  kindly  received  of  them,  and 
promised  to  keep  me  a  few  days.  I  had  not  been  here,  but  ^  of  an 
hour  when  I  was  obliged  to  call  for  a  bed.  After  being  in  bed  two  or 
three  hours,  I  was  taken  with  a  stoppage  in  my  breast,  and  made  my 
resperation  difficult,  and  still  being  afraid  to  cough  loud  for  fear  of  being 
heard.  The  good  lady  of  the  house  gave  me  some  medicine  ot  my  own 


13 

prescribing,  which  soon  gave  me  relief,  Soon  a  rumor  spread  about 
town  among  the  friends  of  America,  of  my  confinement  and  expectation 
soon  to  be  retaken,  they  took  measures  to  have  me  conveyed  to  Long 
Island,  which  was  accordingly  done. 

FEB.  18,  1778. — The  same  day  I  was  landed  I  walked  nine  miles, 
and  put  up  at  a  friends  house  during  my  walk  I  pafsed  my  Grandfather'! 
house,  and  dare  not  go  in  to  see  him  for  fear  he  would  deliver  me  up  to 
the  British.  The  next  morning  I  started  on  my  journey  again  and  reach, 
ed  the  place  I  intended  at  12  O'clock  (noon)  and  put  up  with  two 
friends.  The  next  morning  I  and  my  companions  (two  of  them)  started 
from  our  friends  with  four  days  provisions  and  Shovels  and  axes  to  build 
us  a  hut  in  the  woods.  We  each  of  us  had  a  musket  powder  and  balls. 
After  going  two  miles  in  the  woods,  we  dug  away  the  snow  and  made  us 
a  fire.  After  warming  ourselves  we  set  to  work  to  build  us  a  hut  and 
got  one  side  of  it  done  the  first  day,  and  the  next  day  we  finished  it. 
It  was  tolerably  comfortable,  we  kept  large  fires  and  cooked  our  meat  on 
the  coals.  In  eight  or  ten  days  we  had  some  provisions  brought  us  by 
our  friends.  At  this  time  we  heard  that  Capt  Rodgers  was  cast  away 
on  Long  Island,  and  concealed  by  some  of  his  friends.  We  went  to  see 
him.  and  found  him,  we  attempted  to  stay  in  the  house  in  a  back  room. 
At  about  10  O'clock  A.  M.  there  came  in  a  tory,  he  knowing  some  of  us 
seemed  much  troubled.  We  made  him  promise  that  he  would  not  make 
known  our  escape.  The  next  day  my  two  comrades  went  back  to  their 
old  quarters  and  Capt  Rodgers  and  myself,  and  a  friend  went  into  the 
woods  and  built  us  a  hut,  about  ten  miles  from  my  former  companions, 
with  whom  we  kept  up  a  constant  corespondence.  Soon  a  man  was 
brought  to  us  by  our  friends  whom  we  found  to  be  John  Rolston,  a  man 
that  was  confined  with  us  in  the  Provost  Jail.  And  was  carried  to  the 
Hospital  about  3  weeks  after  I  was,  and  made  his  escape  the  same  way, 
and  by  friends  was  brought  to  Long  Island. 

MARCH  i9th  1778. — About  five  O'clock  a  friend  came  to  us  and 
said  we  had  an  opportunity  to  go  over  to  New  England  in  a  boat  that 
had  just  landed,  with  4  torys  that  had  stolen  the  boat  at  Fairfield  Con 
necticut,  We  immediately  sent  word  to  our  two  friends  with  whom  I 
first  helped  to  build  a  hut,  that  we  could  now  go  across  the  sound,  but 
they  could  not  be  found.  At  sunset  those  that  came  over  in  the  boat 
went  off,  and  some  of  our  friends  guided  us  through  the  woods  to  the 
boat,  taken  two  oars  with  us  which  we  had  made  for  fear  we  should  not 
find  any  in  the  boat.  On  arriving  at  the  plact  our  kind  friends  helped 


14 

us  off.  We  rowed  very  fast  till  we  were  a  great  distance  from  land.  The 
moon  rose  soon,  and  the  wind  being  fair,  we  arrived,  we  knew  not  where, 
about  half  an  hour  before  day.  We  went  on  shore  and  soon  found  it  was 
Norwalk  Ct.  We  had  bade  farewell  to  Long  Island  for  the  present  upon 
which  I  composed  the  following  lines, 

O  fair  you  weH'once  happy  land, 

Where  peace  and  plenty  dwelt 
But  now  op'pressed  by  tyrants  hands, 

Where  naught  but  fury's  felt. 

Behold  I  leave  you  for  awhile 

To  mourn  for  all  your  Sons; 
Who  daily  bleed  that  you  may  smile, 

When  we've  your  freedom  won. 

After  being  rested  just  as  the  day  began  to  dawn  we  walked  a  short 
distance  to  a  place  called  the  «  Old  Mill"  where  we  found  a  guard  who 
hailed  us  at  a  distance,  and  on  coming  up  to  him  kindly  received  us, 
and  invited  us  to  his  house  to  warm  us  (for  he  lived  in  Norwark)  here 
we  went  to  bed  at  sunrise  and  stayed  till  10  O'clock.  After  dinner  we 
took  our  leave  of  Capt  Rodgers,  and  started  for  head  quarters  in  Penn 
sylvania,  where  the  grand  Army  was  at  that  time.  In  seven  days  we 
arrived  at  Valley  Forge. 


NOTE. — The  above  narrative  is  a  true  copy  of  the  "Journal "  written  by  my 
grandfather  (Dr.  Elias  Cornelius),  giving  an  account  of  his  sufferings  and 
treatment  while  in  the  hands  of  the  British  in  New  York,  in  1777  and  1778. 

CHARLES  M.  TOMPKINS. 
June  4th,  1894. 


15 


[From  Putnam  County  Republican,  Carmel,  N.  Y.,  April  6,  1895.] 

On  our  second  page  will  be  found  a  sketch  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and 
patriot,  Dr.  Elias  Cornelius,  who  was  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Baldwin 
Place.  This  is  the  first  complete  sketch  of  Dr.  Cornelius'  career  that  has  been 
presented  to  the  public,  although  he  passed  away  over  seventy  years  ago. 
We  are  indebted  to  our  old  friend,  Judge  Charles  M.  Tompkins,  of  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.,  for  a  copy  of  Dr.  Cornelius'  Journal,  and  also  for  other  information 
which  has  aided  us  in  compiling  the  sketch. — EDITOR. 


DR.  ELIAS  CORNELIUS. 

The  following  sketch  of  one  whose  career  dates  back  to  the  begin 
ning  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  who  suffered  imprisonment,  endured 
great  privations  and  persecutions,  and  even  banishment  from  home  and 
estrangement  of  family  ties  for  the  cause  of  freedom,  but  who  came  out  of 
the  ordeal  unscathed  and  purified — like  gold  tried  by  fire — with  character 
strengthened  and  patriotism  intensified,  and,  after  the  clouds  of  war 
had  rolled  by  and  his  beloved  country  no  longer  required  his  services, 
became  the  most  noted  physician  of  his  time  in  this  section  of  the  State, 
and  a  strong  and  honored  pillar  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  is  written 
with  a  desire  to  revive  and  perpetuate  the  memory  and  deeds  of  a  good 
man,  and  a  noble  patriot,  who  was  an  honor  to  his  country,  to  his  pro 
fession,  and  to  Christianity,  and  whose  life  was  an  inspiration  and  a 
blessing  to  his  fellow  men. 

Such  was  Dr.  Elias  Cornelius,  who  for  over  forty  years  (1781-1823) 
filled  a  prominent  place  in  the  active  life  of  Putnam  County  and  North 
ern  Westchester,  and  whose  name  in  those  olden  days  was  a  household 
word  in  the  communities  through  which  he  moved  and  practised  his  pro 
fession. 

Elias  Cornelius  was  born  on  Long  Island  in  the  year  1758.  Be 
sides  Elias,  his  father's  family  consisted  of  another  son  and  several 
daughters.  His  paternal  ancestors  came  from  Holland,  and  a  coat  of 
arms  once  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Cornelius,  of  which  we  have  seen  a 
copy,  indicates  that  they  were  people  of  rank  and  distinguished  for  mil 
itary  achievements  and  religious  zeal  which  had  won  for  them  this 
honorable  heraldic  emblem.  Beyond  this  we  know  nothing  of  the  family 
history,  nor  of  Elias'  boyhood  or  educational  advantages,  except  that  he 
had  not  received  the  benefit  of  a  collegiate  education. 


16 

At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  we  find  him  study 
ing  medicine  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Samuel  Latham,  a  physician  of 
repute,  in  New  York  City,  who  not  only  initiated  his  pupil  into  the 
mysteries  of  the  healing  art  and  sought  to  convert  him  into  a  worthy 
disciple  of  Esculapius,  but  also  instilled  into  his  youthful  mind  the 
principles  of  patriotism  and  implanted  in  his  heart  the  love  of  freedom 
to  such  an  extent,  that,  in  spite  of  the  persuasions  and  remonstrances  of 
his  parents  and  other  relatives,  all  of  whom  were  devoted  Loyalists,  he 
resolved  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  Patriots. 

The  outgrowth  of  this  was  that  he  enlisted  in  the  American  Army, 
Jan.  i,  1777,  being  then  only  twenty  years  of  age.  On  April  15,  1777, 
he  was  appointed  Surgeon's  Mate  in  the  Second  Regiment  of  Rhode 
Island  troops  under  the  command  of  Col.  Israel  Angell.  His  appoint 
ment  was  signed  by  John  Cochran,  Surgeon  General;  James  Craik,*  Chief 
Physician  and  Surgeon  to  the  Army  ;  Col.  Israel  Angell  and  others.  Four 
months  after  this,  Aug. 2 2,  1777,  while  on  a  reconnoitering  trip,  Dr.  Cor 
nelius  was  surprised  and  taken  prisoner  by  the  British,  at  East  Chester. 
He  was  robbed  of  all  his  belongings,  and  then  marched  to  New  York  under 
charge  of  Hessian  Guards  by  whom  he  was  treated  in  an  insulting  and 
cruel  manner.  On  his  arrival  there  he  was  lodged  in  the  Old  Sugar  House 
prison,  in  which  the  private  soldiers  were  kept.  Soon  after  he  was  re 
moved  from  that  prison  and  thrown  into  a  dungeon  in  the  Provost  Jail. 

Concerning  this  Jail,  Mary  L.  Booth,  in  her  History  of  New  York 
City,  quotes  from  a  published  document  of  John  Pintard,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  as  follows:  "The  Provost 
was  destined  for  the  more  notorious  rebels,  civil,  naval  and  military. 
An  admission  to  this  modern  Bastile  was  enough  to  appall  the  stoutest 
heart." 

The  Jail  was  under  the  superintendence  of  the  notorious  Provost 
Marshal  Cunningham,  and  no  greater  brute,  or  demon  in  human  form, 
ever  had  charge  of  captives  of  war.  The  barbarities  practiced  on  the 
defenceless  prisoners  by  this  man  stand  unparalleled  in  the  history  of 
war.  It  is  stated  that  he  treated  them  with  the  utmost  cruelty,  heaped 
every  possible  indignity  on  them,  and  while  his  victims  were  dying  off 
from  cold  and  starvation,  like  cattle,  he  actually  mingled  an  arsenical 
preparation  with  their  poor  food  in  order  to  kill  them  off  quicker.  It  is 

*  It  will  be  remembered  that  Dr.  Craik  was  the  physician  who  attended  Gen. 
Washington  in  his  last  and  fatal  illness,  December,  1799.  Dr.  Craik  was  then  residing 
at  Alexandria,  Va. 


17 

also  recorded  that  he  openly  boasted  that  "  he  had  killed  more  of  the  reb 
els  with  his  own  hand  than  had  been  slain  by  all  the  king's  forces  in 
America."  Such  was  the  Provost  Jail  and  its  keeper. 

Among  Dr.  Cornelius's  friends  and  fellow  prisoners  in  the  jail,  he 
mentions  Ethan  Allen,  the  hero  of  Ticonderoga,  and  Majors  Williams, 
Paine  and  Wells. 

Here  he  languished  until  Sept.  20,  1777,  suffering  for  the  necessa 
ries  of  life  and  receiving  like  all  confined  there,  most  cruel  and  inhuman 
treatment^  from  the  jailers  and  guards.  He  was  then  transferred  to  the 
upper  rooms  of  the  prison  where  he  was  confined  until  Jan.  9,  1778. 
About  this  time  Dr.  Cornelius  received  a  visit  from  his  father,  who,  as 
we  have  stated,  was  a  Loyalist  and  a  most  faithful  adherent  of  King 
George.  In  the  journal  which  he  kept  during  his  imprisonment  (which 
we  shall  publish  later)  he  makes  mention  of  this  visit  and  records  the 
views  which  his  father  then  expressed  of  his  conduct.  He  writes  that  he 
reproached  him  for  his  treasonable  action  and  wept  over  the  trouble  it 
had  brought  him  into,  ascribing  the  whole  as  a  result  of  the  influence 
which  Dr.  Latham,  whom  he  styled  «  a  bad  man,"  had  exerted  over  his 
son.  He  then  urged  Elias  to  avail  himself  of  a  free  pardon  which  had 
been  offered  in  a  proclamation  by  the  Governor,  Sir  William  Howe,  to 
all  who  would  come  in  voluntarily  and  "quit  the  rebels."  The  young 
man,  however,  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  his  father's  entreaties,  who  left  him 
uttering  dire  predictions  of  the  results  that  would  follow.  England,  ac 
cording  to  his  views,  must  surely  conquer  the  rebellious  Colonies,  and 
his  erring  son  would  then,  when  it  was  too  late,  realize  the  folly  of  his 
course,  and  without  doubt  meet  the  fate  due  a  traitor  to  his  king  and 
country. 

Soon  after  his  father's  visit,  he  was  again  consigned  to  the  dungeon, 
but  a  few  days  later,  on  account  of  sickness,  was  removed  to  the  hospital 
which  he  states  was  "  in  the  brick  meeting  house."  Watching  his  op 
portunity,  he  made  his  escape  from  there,  Jan.  16,  1778,  three  days  after 
his  arrival.  He  then  wandered  about  for  a  number  of  days  and  endured 
much  exposure  and  suffering,  but  finally  found,  to  use  his  own  language, 
"the  house  of  some  friends  to  America,"  who  took  him  in,  and  after 
wards  aided  him  to  reach  Long  Island. 

When  he  arrived  on  Long  Island,  he  writes  in  his  Journal  that  he 
walked  nine  miles  and  passed  his  grandfather's  house  but  did  not  dare 
go  in  to  ask  relief  for  fear  that  the  old  gentleman,  who  was  a  strong  Tory, 
would  deliver  him  up  to  the  British.  Shortly  after,  in  his  wanderings, 


18 

he  again  found  friends  to  the  American  cause,  and  also  met  two  men 
who  had  been  prisoners  of  the  British,  and  like  himself,  had  been  for 
tunate  enough  to  make  their  escape  without  detection. 

Cornelius,  in  company  with  these  men,  then  went  into  the  woods 
where  they  built  a  hut  in  which  they  passed  the  remainder  of  the  Winter, 
living  in  constant  fear,  however,  lest  they  should  be  discovered  by  the 
Tories  in  the  vicinity,  and  information  given  which  would  lead  to  their 
recapture  by  the  British  soldiers.  By  hunting,  and  with  occasional  sup 
plies  stealthily  furnished  them  by  a  few  faithful  friends  they  managed  to 
eke  out  an  existence  until  March  19,  1778,  when  not  deeming  it  safe  to 
remain  longer  in  that  location,  the  party  separated. 

After  this  Dr.  Cornelius  took  refuge  in  the  house  of  one  of  his  friends, 
where  he  met  two  other  men  who  had  been  his  fellow  prisoners  in  the 
Provost  Jail.  As  all  three  men  were  desirous  of  leaving  Long  Island, 
in  a  few  days,  with  the  aid  of  friends,  a  boat  was  secured  in  which  Cor 
nelius  and  his  two  companions  rowed  across  the  sound  to  Norwalk, 
Conn.,  where  they  found  shelter  in  the  house  of  Capt.  Rogers,  one  of 
the  party.  Dr.  Cornelius  remained  at  Captain  Rogers's  residence  only 
long  enough  to  take  needed  rest  and  refreshment,  then  proceeded  on  his 
way,  and  after  a  journey  of  seven  days,  rejoined  the  American  Army 
which  was  then  in  those  memorable  headquarlers  at  Valley  Forge,  Penn 
sylvania.  He  continued  in  the  service  until  Jan.  i,  1781,  and  received 
an  honorable  discharge. 

On  retiring  from  the  service  in  1781,  Dr.  Cornelius  settled  at 
Yorktown,  Westchester  County,  and  entered  on  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession.  Amid  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  his  life  in  the  army  he 
received  vivid  religious  impressions  and  came  to  be  known  as  the  "be 
loved  physcian,"  which  led  him  after  settling  there  to  unite  with  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  in  1787  he  was  honored  with  the  office  o^ 
deacon. 

Some  years  later  he  removed  from  Yorktown  to  the  northwest  part 
of  the  town  of  Somers,  which  is  now  known  as  Baldwin  Place,  and  located 
on  the  farm  at  present  owned  by  Samuel  M.  Lounsbury,  where  he 
resided  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Here  he  devoted  himself  with  renewed  energy  to  his  profession  and 
acquired  a  large  practice  extending  over  the  towns  of  Carmel,  Somers, 
Yorktown,  Philipstown,  and  Fredericksburg.  He  was  a  close  student, 
and  by  patient  study  and  industry  accumulated  a  large  fund  of  general 
and  professional  information.  Many  young  men  studied  medicine  under 
his  superintendence  and  became  able  and  successful  practitioners. 


19 

Though  Dr.  Cornelius  was  an  energetic  man  and  possessed  great 
firmness  of  character,  he  was  also  very  kind  hearted  and  generous — the 
poor  received  gratuitous  medical  attendance  from  him  to  a  great  extent, 
and  while  he  ministered  to  the  physical  ailments  of  his  patients,  like  his 
Master,  the  "Great  Physician."  he  was  ever  ready  to  offer  spiritual  com 
fort  to  those  who  stood  in  need,  and  kind  words  and  advice  were  freely 
bestowed  on  rich  and  poor  alike,  in  such  measure  as  the  case  required. 

His  generosity  was  not  alone  confined  to  individuals  but  the  church 
as  well  found  him  a  faithful  servant,  a  cheerful  giver  and  an  industrious 
worker.  The  Presbyterian  Church  Society,  of  Mahopac  Falls  (formerly 
known  as  Red  Mills),  to-day  stands  in  part  as  a  monument  to -his  zeal 
and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  for  in  1790,  he  in  conjunction  with 
a  few  other  faithful  ones  effected  its  organization,  and  to  the  day  of  his 
death  his  contributions  to  its  support  were  most  liberal  and  his  interest 
in  its  welfare  unabated.  He  was  a  prime  mover,  too,  in  securing  for  the 
society  its  first  house  of  worship,  taking  a  very  active  part  in  raising 
funds  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  edifice,  and  its  completion  was  to  him 
a  source  of  pride  and  satisfaction.  When  the  church  was  incorporated, 
April  7,  1806,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Trustees. 

In  his  Will  he  bequeathed  legacies  to  the  following  religious  and 
charitable  societies  :  The  American  Bible  Society  ;  The  United  Foreign 
Mission  Society  ;  The  American  Education  Society,  and  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions. 

His  creed  was  loyalty  to  his  country  and  to  his  God,  and  all 
through  his  eventful  and  useful  life  his  words  and  deeds  alike  attested 
his  sincerity.  His  view  of  life  was  evidently  embodied  in  the  following 
lines  of  verse  which  were  found  pasted  in  the  inside  covers  of  all  his 
books. 

"  SOON  will  this  glass  of  mortal  life  be  run 

And  all  its  fleeting  vanities  be  gone. 

Then  may  I  feel  no  more  fins  cruel  fire, 

But  to  the  grave  in  faith  and  peace  retire  ; 

And  weep  no  more  for  the  licentious  wrongs 

Of  judgments  rafh  or  fcourge  of  slanderous  tongues." 

Dr.  Cornelius  married  for  his  first  wife  the  daughter  of  a  brother 
physician,  Dr.  Brewer,  who  bore  him  several  children,  all  of  whom  died 
in  childhood,  and  his  wife  also  passed  away  in  early  life.  Some  years 
after  her  decease,  he  married  Miss  Rachel  Stocker,  who  is  described  as 
possessing  many  excellent  traits  of  character,  and  as  being  a  woman  of 
enlarged  Christian  experience.  She  died  about  the  year  1833.  By  this 


20 

marriage,  five  children  were  born  to  him,  one  son,  Elias  Cornelius,  and 
four  daughters:  "Sally,"  who  married  Tallman  Perry,  Sept.  13,  1824; 
Betsey,  who  married  Ira  Tompkins,  March  8,  1820  ;  Polly,  who  be 
came  the  wife  of  Rev.  William  Lewis,  and  Nancy,  who  died  unmarried 
at  the  early  age  of  nineteen  years. 

The  son,  Elias  Cornelius,  who  was  graduated  from  Yale  College, 
Sept.,  1813,  studied  theology  under  Dr.  Dwight,  and  became  an  eloquent 
and  influential  minister  of  the  Congregational  Church,  being  licensed  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  June  16,  1816,  at  Litchfield,  Conn.  For  five  years 
(1826-1831)  he  filled  the  office  of  Secretary  to  the  American  Educa 
tional  Society,  and  through  his  influence  and  earnest  labors  the  work  of 
preparing  young  men  for  the  ministry  received  a  notable  impetus.  In 
January,  1832,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  to  succeed  Jeremiah 
Evarts. 

But  it  had  been  foreordained  that  his  life  work,  so  earnest  and  suc 
cessful,  should  be  accomplished  quickly,  even  before  he  had  reached  his 
prime,  for  he  died  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  Feb.  i2th>  1832,  one  month  after 
his  appointment,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years.  The  talented  poetess, 
Mrs.  Sigourney,  wrote  some  touching  lines  on  his  death.  One  son,  Jer 
emiah  Evarts  Cornelius,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  two  daughters,  Mary 
Cornelius  and  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Little,  of  Newton  Centre,  Mass.,  are  now 
the  only  living  members  of  his  family. 

The  daughters,  reared  in  this  Christian  home,  were  also  noted  for 
piety,  and  like  their  father  and  brother,  their  walk  in  life  abounded  in 
good  deeds.  Their  highest  aim  seems  to  have  been  to  aid  and  comfort 
those  less  fortunate  than  themselves.  They  were  women  highly  respect 
ed  in  the  communities  where  their  lives  were  spent,  and  valued  and 
devoted  members  of  the  churches  with  which  they  were  connected. 

Of  these,  Betsey,  who  died  Sept.  28,  1852,  wife  of  Ira  Tompkins, 
left  three  sons  and  four  daughters  :  Eli  C.  Tompkins,  of  Fond  du  Lac, 
Wis.;  Judge  Charles  M.  Tompkins,  of  Washington,  D.  C.;  Augustus 
Tompkins,  Burlington,  Kansas  ;  Mrs.  Amelia  Travis,  Burlington,  Kan 
sas  ;  Mrs.  Julia  Moore,  Baldwin  Place,  N.  Y.;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hyatt, 
Jefferson  Valley,  N.  Y.;  and  Mrs.  Sarah  F.  Hyatt,  New  York  City,  all 
of  whom  are  now  living. 

Mrs.  Sally  Perry  lived  and  died  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  the  last  mem 
ber  of  Dr.  Cornelius'  family  to  pass  away.  She  left  an  only  son,  Rev. 
Tallman  C.  Perry,  now  living  at  La  Prairie,  Canada. 


21 

Mrs.  Polly  Lewis,  wife  of  Rev.  William  Lewis,  died  at  Rising  Sun, 
Ind.,  many  years  ago,  leaving  one  son,  William,  who  when  last  heard 
from,  was  living  near  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

Nancy,  the  youngest  child,  died  March  23rd,  1822,  aged  19  years. 

Dr.  Cornelius  was  a  member  of  the  order  of  Cincinnati, 'and  his  cer 
tificate  of  membership  bears  the  signatures  of  Washington  and  Knox,  who 
were  his  personal  friends.  This,  with  the  "  Journal"  to  which  we  have 
alluded,  is  now  in  the  office  of  the  R.  I.  Society,  of  Cincinnati. 

Gen.  La  Fayette  was  also  an  intimate  friend  of  Dr.  Cornelius,  and 
presented  him  with  a  sword  as  a  token  of  his  esteem,  which  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  his  grandson,  Rev.  Tallman  C.  Perry,  of  La  Prairie,  Canada. 
Dr.  Cornelius  died  in  1823,  and  lies  buried  in  the  Presbyterian  Ceme 
tery  at  Mahopac  Falls.  His  tombstone  bears  the  following  inscription  : 

DR.  ELIAS  CORNELIUS, 

Died  June  13,  1823,   Aged    65    years. 

«  A  Revolutionary  Officer  and  Patriot,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  the  Church  and  Society  in  this  place,  and  for  forty  years  a  laborious, 
and  eminently  useful  Physician.  Embracing  religion  in  the  Camp,  he 
was  early  distinguished  for  his  zeal  and  activity  in  the  cause  of  Christ, 
and  having  spent  much  of  his  life  in  its  service,  died  in  the  possession  of 

its  hopes." 

IDA  M.  BLAKE. 


[From  The  Spirit  of  '76,  New  York,  February,  1898.] 

A  NEW  YORK  PATRIOT  IN  PRISON. 

BY    A.  OAKEY   HALL. 


How  the  English  in  1777  Made  Dungeons  in  the  Livingston  Sugar 
House  and  Hall  of  Records. 

Judge  Charles  M.  Tompkins,  who  has  been  in  the  Department  of  the 
Interior  at  Washington  since  Lincoln  first  appointed  him,  as  well  as  his 
Westchester  County  relatives,  never  tire  of  recounting  the  sufferings  as  a 
Revolutionary  patriot  of  their  grandfather,  Elias  Cornelius,  who  as  a 
young  M.  D.  in  the  early  years  of  the  war  against  King  George,  served 
as  surgeon's  mate  in  the  brigade  of  General  Varnum,  whose  descendents 
yet  illustrate  the  political,  loyal  and  social  circles  of  New  York  City. 
When  the  Britons  of  to-day  wonder  why  there  exists  so  bitter  a  feeling 
in  the  United  States  against  the  English  government  the  answer  would 
be  that  such  stories  as  grandfather  Cornelius  had  to  relate  to  his  posterity 
(which  was  only  a  sample  story  of  tales  narrated  by  a  thousand  other 
Continental  prisoners)  emphasized  the  naturally  bullying  propensity  of 
all  John  Bulls  and  their  inclination  toward  oppression  and  cruelty.  So 
long  as  American  children  receive  common  school  education,  so  long 
will  their  own  native  logic  teach  them  to  hate  a  government  guilty  of 
oppressions  toward  their  ancestry  such  as  characterized  the  era  of  George 
III.,  or  countenanced  the  felonious  raid  of  British  troops  on  the  National 
Capitol  during  the  naval  war  in  President  Madison's  time ;  or  learn 
about  the  selfishness  of  the  English  cabinet  during  our  civil  war  time  in 
aiding  and  abetting  secession.  London  newspapers  have  but  to  remem 
ber  that  Americans  thereby  have  a  three-fold  reason  for  disliking  Eng 
lish  governments  ;  and  a  dislike  intensified  by  reflection  upon  the  three 
hundred  years  of  their  oppressions  and  cruelties  toward  Irishmen.  This 
spirit  of  hatred  and  dislike  is  probably  more  rampant  in  New  York  than 
elsewhere,  because  its  local  revolutionary  history  especially  teems  with 
narratives  of  Tory  oppression  in  our  Colonial  city  and  of  Tory  cruelties 
in  city  prisons  and  prison  ships  and  at  the  Wallabout  on  the  Brooklyn 
side,  fostered  by  vindictive  provost  marshals.  The  vindictive  English 
spirit  of  our  Revolutionary  era  has  subsequently  existed  for  the  Sepoys 
of  India.  In  1777  General  Howe  did  not  blow  prisoners  into  fragments 


23 

at  the  cannon's  mouth  as  was  done  in  1855  in  Hindostan  ;  but  the  story 
of  Dr.  Cornelius'  imprisonment  in  New  York  City  that  now  passes 
into  history  for  the  first  time  proves  how  English  vindictiveness  could 
intensify.  When  Dr.  Elias  Cornelius  surrendered  his  medical  future  in 
this  city  in  order  to  respect  his  patriotic  instincts  by  volunteering  in  the 
army  of  Washington,  it  occupied  posts  in  the  area  which  is  now  known  as 
the  annexed  district  of  this  city.  In  the  summer  of  1777  the  hospital  stores 
of  General  Varnum's  brigade  stationed  in  the  city  suburbs  were  sadly 
deficient ;  and  the  city  being  held  by  red  coats  it  was  difficult  for  such 
stores  to  be  procured.  WTherefore  it  occurred  to  Dr.  Cornelius  to  suggest 
a  raid  for  hospital  stores  upon  those  within  the  enemy's  lines  that  were 
as  near  to  the  Continental  lines  as  in  1862  were  the  two  hostile  armies 
along  the  Potomac.  The  raid  was  undertaken  by  Surgeon  General  Tuni- 
son  of  Washington's  General  Hospital  and  Captain  Alden's  company 
of  fifty.  It  proved  successful  as  to  capturing  medicines,  bandages,  lint 
and  surgical  instruments  ;  but  in  returning  one  section  with  which  was 
Dr.  Cornelius  fell  into  an  ambush  at  East  Chester,  where  after  a  brief 
engagement  it  had  to  yield  to  overwhelming  numbers.  'Jhe  horse  of  Dr. 
Cornelius  was  seized  and  also  his  pistol  holsters  by  Hessian  privates,  who 
acted,  says  Cornelius,  more  like  brigands  than  soldiers.  They  took  off 
his  military  cloak  and  even  wrenched  the  buckles  from  his  shoes  and  ob 
tained  thirty  pounds  in  money  and  his  handkerchief,  and  actually 
showed  some  symptoms  of  grabbing  his  shirt  and  stockings.  Now, 
Doctor  Cornelius  was  a  non-combatant  as  a  surgeon  and  to  be  respected 
as  such  by  the  rules  of  war — rules  that  the  generals  of  George  III.  by  the 
aid  of  Aboriginal  Indian  allies  hunting  for  scalps  and  of  Hessian  allies 
bent  upon  plunder  seldom  respected  throughout  the  whole  Revolutionary 
and  naval  wars.  The  ambush  had  been  planned  for  the  red  coats  by  a 
Tory  civilian — for,  sad  to  relate,  the  city  and  its  suburbs  abounded  with 
Tories  and  traitors,  and  new  converts  are  generally  the  most  zealous. 
The  captors  stopped  at  the  tavern  of  a  Tory  named  Hunt  who  taunted 
Cornelius,  whom  he  well  knew,  while  at  the  same  time  he  was  dealing  out 
to  them  liquor  bought  as  he  knew  with  the  stolen  money.  There  the 
hapless  surgeon  was  detained  all  night  in  close  confinement  with  a  few 
fellow  comrades,  and  watched  by  sentinels  who  threatened  to  blow  out 
the  brains  of  the  first  one  of  the  party  who  spoke  to  another. 

All  this,  and  much  more  which  now  follows  of  narrative  appears  from 
an  original  journal  of  his  grandfather,  a  copy  of  which  Judge  Tompkins 
piously  preserves.  On  the  following  morning  the  doctor  and  compan- 


24 

ions  were  escorted  under  Hessian  guard  to  Kingsbridge,  and  delivered 
over  to  the  custody  of  the  Provost  Guard.  During  the  day  the  prisoners 
suffered  with  hunger  and  thirst,  being  given  only  mouldy  bread  and  drink 
from  a  bucket  of  water  into  which  a  pint  of  rum  was  poured,  and  some 
green  apples  which  "were  thrown  at  me,"  says  the  journal,  "as  if  I  were 
a  pig  in  a  pen. ' '  Soon  they  were  marched  under  guard  toward  New  York, 
and  on  the  way,  on  a  point  overlooking  the  Hudson  that  would  seem  to 
have  been  situated  about  where  now  is  Grant's  tomb,  they  were  brought 
into  the  headquarters  of  a  Hessian  general  for  triumphant  exhibition.  It 
would  seem  to  have  occasioned  great  sport  to  the  red  coat  officers  to  find 
captured  rebels  brought  before  them  to  be  baited  with  rough  jests  and 
coarse  aspersions  upon  their  disloyalty  ;  and  for  an  hour  Dr.  Cornelius 
and  his  comrades  afforded  the  fat  old  beer-drinking  Hessian  general 
great  delight ;  and  such  as  Spaniards  feel  at  a  bull  fight.  Baiting  and 
wounding  with  the  tongue  is  often  to  a  man  of  fine  feeling  as  exquisite 
pain  as  to  the  bull  is  baiting  with  swords.  After  the  Hessian  general 
had  enjoyed  his  fill  of  rebel  sport,  Dr.  Cornelius  was  marched  entirely 
across  the  island  until  Bowery  was  reached,  which,  said  his  journal,  "  is 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  City  of  New  York."  Continues  Dr. 
Cornelius'  account :  "As  we  marched  into  town  Hessians,  negroes  and 
children  insulted,  abused  and  stoned  us  in  every  way  they  could  think 
of.  Two  of  our  men  had  become  so  fatigued  that  we  were  obliged  to 
carry  them.  And  in  this  way  we  were  paraded  as  a  show,  to  be  brought 
before  General  Jones,  who  ordered  us  as  prisoners  into  Livingston's 
sugar  house.  Dr.  Cornelius  arrived  there  under  charge  of  Sergeant  Walley 
(now  of  historic  infamy)  of  the  2oth  regiment  (Irish,)  who  began  with 
apparent  delight  a  course  of -barbarous  treatment.  This  generation 
should  remember  that  young  New  York  (N.  B. — It  is  a  mistake  to  speak 
of  "  old  New  York"  as  belonging  to  a  century  ago,  for  only  in  1897 
exists  an  old  New  York)  was  then  intensely  tory.  The  city  was  really 
then  "English — quite  English,  you  know;"  and  the  early  "  sons  of  lib. 
erty,"  headed  by  Alexander  Hamilton,  the  Columbia  College  student, 
had  enlisted  under  Washington.  The  sugar  house  in  question  was  full 
of  holes  in  its  roof,  and  the  prisoners  kept  in  the  upper  stories  were  after 
every  rain  intentionally  exposed  to  chills  and  rheumatism. 

<«You  are  a  rebel  doctor,  eh?"  cried  Jailer  Walley  to  Cornelius; 
"  then  you  can  dose  yourself;"  and  he  confiscated  the  doctor's  commis 
sion,  which  was  signed  by  Surgeon  General  John  Cochrane  (grandfather 
of  that  namesake  who  is  known  to  this  generation  as  Alderman,  Police 


25 

Justice,  Congressman,  Union  General  and  President  of  the  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati.)  The  commission  was  also  signed  by  Washington's  staff 
physician,  Doctor  Craig,  who  it  will  be  recalled  medically  ministered  to 
the  dying  ex-President.  Dr.  Cornelius'  father  was  a  tory  living  on  the 
Sound  shore  of  Long  Island  and  had  resented  the  rebel  proclivities  of  his 
son — at  this  time  not  yet  of  age — and  blamed  his  medical  preceptor,  the 
famous  Doctor  Samuel  Latham  Mitchell,  afterwards  the  first  Federal 
Senator  from  New  York,  for  instilling  rebel  sentiments.  Being  without 
funds  and  clothing  the  captured  Cornelius  begged  for  pen,  ink  and  pa 
per,  so  as  to  write  to  his  father ;  but  Jailer  Walley  not  only  refused  but 
struck  him  in  the  face  with  his  cane  and  reduced  his  allowance  of  mouldy 
bread  and  water.  The  father,  however,  learned  of  his  son's  capture 
and  imprisonment  through  the  tory  "  Rivington  Gazette,"  and  came  to 
see  him  ;  but  only  to  urge  him  to  obey  Lord  Howe's  proclamation, 
which  gave  pardon  to  all  rebels  who  should  return  to  their  allegiance 
unto  King  George.  Dr.  Cornelius  indignantly  declined,  and  the  old 
tory  father  left  his  son  to  his  fate  ;  but  after  the  war  ended  that  son  was 
enabled  to  save  his  father's  property  from  confiscation.  New  York  reb 
els  were  then  situated  toward  Captain  General  Lord  Howe  much  as 
Havana  rebels  are  by  the  forgiving  proclamation  of  Captain  General 
Weyler. 

From  the  sugar  house  prison  Dr.  Cornelius  was  removed  to  the 
Provost  Marshal's  prison  on  the  site  of  the  present  Hall  of  Records,  in 
which  still  stands  portions  of  the  old  prison  wall.  The  doctor,  because 
he  had  refused  the  clemency  of  Lord  Howe,  was  clapped  into  a  base 
ment  dungeon  where  he  encountered  a  fellow  prisoner — a  ship  captain 
of  Philadelphia  named  Chatham,  who  had  as  captive  refused  to  pilot  a 
Britsh  troop  ship  up  the  Delaware.  Provost  Marshal  Cunningham — 
probably  the  most  cruel  and  inhuman  jailer  known  to  history,  and  because 
of  his  devilish  proclivities  kept  in  office  to  enforce  the  early  repressive 
measures  that  the  British  adopted  towards  conquering  the  spirit  of  rebels 
— inflicted  new  indignities  upon  Cornelius  and  the  others,  and  not  only 
refused  the  latter  the  offices  of  the  provost  physician,  but  punished  Dr. 
Cornelius  for  attempting  to  medically  succor  them.  "But  they  will 
die,"  remonstrated  the  doctor.  "  They  are  sent  here  for  that  purpose," 
rejoined  Cunningham  ;  «  and  His  Gracious  Majesty  will  forgivingly  bury 
them  in  Potters  Field."  That  pauper  cemetery  was  then  the  area  now 
Washington  Square.  Here  Dr.  Cornelius  was  kept  from  Aug.  25  to 
Sep.  12  without  change  of  linen  or  clothing  or  water  for  ablutions. 


Among  the  prisoners  Dr.  Cornelius  found  brave  Ethan  Allen,  who  three 
years  previously  had  become  the  hero  of  Ticonderoga,    but    had   been 
taken  prisoner  in  the  General  Montgomery  expedition  against  Montreal. 
Ethan  Allen  narrated  to  the  doctor,  who  copied  the  narrative  into  his 
diary,  how  he  had  been  put  on  board  a  man-of-war  in  the  St.  Lawrence, 
chained  flat  on  his  back  during  six  months  in  a  corner  of  the  hold,  and 
twice  carried  on  shore  in  England  to  be  hanged,  once  also  on  the  coast 
of  Ireland,  and  a  third  time  at  Halifax.     Allen's  bravery  was  not   then 
fully  known  to  the  doctor,   who  quaintly  writes  in   his   diary,  "  there 
seemed  to  have  been  much  antipathy  to  Allen."     He  was  not  aware 
either  that  all  those  cruelties  and  these  of  Cunningham  were  brought  up 
in  Parliament  by  friends  therein  of  the  colonists  and  expressly  by   vote 
approved  by  Lord  North's  bloodthirsty  administration.      And  yet  the 
London  Times  continues  to  wonder  why  so  many  Americans  dislike  the 
country  of  Queen  Victoria's  grandfather,  who  countenanced  the  cruelties 
and  oppressions  of  McKinley's  ancestral  people.      Adds  the  Cornelius 
journal :    "  I  frequently  saw  beaten  with  canes  and  ramrods  women  who 
came  to  the  prison  windows  to  speak  to  their  husbands,  sons  or  brothers  ; 
some  of  whom  would  be  put  on  bread  and  water  diet  in  dungeons  merely 
for  asking    that  cold  water  be    passed    to    them    through   the   bars." 
When  General  Clinton  and  a  British  force  captured  Fort  Montgomery 
its  officers  were  brought  to  Cunningham's  care,  some  of  them   wounded, 
whom  Dr.  Cornelius  begged  to  attend  surgically  only  to  receive  refusals 
with  curses.     The  London  Times  criticizes  Weyler  for  his  treatment  of 
prisoners,  and  yet  he  is  only  in  Havana  adopting  the  English  precedents 
set  by  Lord  Howe  and  Provost  Marshal  Cunningham   in  Colonial   New 
York  City.     Soon,  however,  news  came  that  General  Burgoyne  had  ca 
pitulated  to  General  Gates  at  Saratoga,  when  the  Cunningham  imprison 
ment  modified  somewhat.     "  We  are  now  even  given  each  a  little  butter, 
and  a  gill  of  rice  to  each,  and  our  dried  peas  are  allowed  to  be  boiled," 
quaintly  and  pathetically  writes  the  doctor  ;  and  in  January,    1778,   he 
adds,  "  good  bread  and  beef  and  wood  to  burn."     But  soon  Cornelius 
was  taken  back  to  the  sugar  house,  where  he  found  <«  the  Hessian  guards 
stealing  our  clothes  and  bed  blankets  and  kicking  and  beating  us."    He 
became  so  ill,  but  had  made  himself  so  useful,  medically,  to  the  British 
surgeon  that  when  "the  rebel  physician"  became  ill  the  former  sent  him 
"  to  the  brick  church  hospital  in  the  street  called    Wall.1"     From   this 
hospital  the  doctor  one  night  escaped,  and  in   a  blizzard  traversed   the 
island  up  as  high  as  opposite  Hell  Gate  with  almost  incredible  exposure, 


27 

suffering  and  romantic  incidents ;  whence  he  crossed  by  boat  to  Long 
Island  and  was  cared  for  by  secretive  patriots.  There  is  a  pathetic 
entry  in  the  diary — "passed  at  night  by  the  house  in  which  I  was 
born  and  dared  not  go  in  lest  my  grandfather,  a  devoted  loyalist 
should  return  me  to  prison."  He  eventually  escaped  by  boat  into  Nor- 
walk,  Connecticut,  and  was  enabled  to  rejoin  the  army,  which  was  now 
at  Valley  Forge  in  Pennsylvania.  There  he  shared  the  terrors  of  that 
patient  and  suffering  waiting  of  Washington  and  his  patriot  soldiers  that 
history  has  made  memorable,  and  in  his  surgical  capacity  Dr.  Cornelius 
was  of  great  service  to  the  Continental  camps.  Two  years  more  he  con 
tinued  in  surgical  army  duty,  but  through  illness  was  obliged  to  seek  his 
honorable  discharge  in  the  very  year  of  Cornwallis'  surrender  at  York- 
town.  It  was  in  a  village  by  that  name  in  the  north  of  Westchester 
County  that  he  settled  as  physician,  but  passed  most  of  his  declining 
years  in  the  town  of  Somers,  dying  there  in  1823.  And  many  now  old 
men  residing  in  it  recall  hearing,  when  they  were  young,  from  the  lips 
of  old  Dr.  Cornelius  the  stories  of  his  sufferings  in  New  York  City  Eng 
lish  prisons.  He  had  a  clerical  son,  who  succeeded  the  father  of  William 
M.  Evarts  as  Secretary  of  the  American  Board  of  Missions,  and  who  in 
his  turn  had  a  son  whom  he  named  after  the  elder  Evarts.  The  old 
army  surgeon's  grandchildren  reside  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States, 
and  one  of  them,  Mrs.  Hyatt,  in  this  city.  His  sword,  a  gift  from 
Lafayette,  whom  he  attended  in  an  illness,  abides  on  British  soil  in  the 
keeping  of  a  clerical  grandson,  the  Rev.  Tallman  C.  Perry,  ofLaPrairie, 
Canada.  And  summer  residents  at  Mahopac  Falls  can  in  its  cemetery 
read  the  tombstone  of  the  great  patriotic  sufferer  in  the  British  prisons  of 
this  city,  whose  war  journal  in  the  possession  of  the  Rhode  Island  branch 
of  the  Cincinnati  Society  is  the  basis  of  the  foregoing  narrative. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

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\NTER-LIBRAR 
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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 


